Thaindian News

September 16, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): Kelly Ayotte won the recently concluded New Hampshire Republican Primary by a narrow margin ending the spectacular winning streak of the grass root Tea Party members. She defeated her rival Ovide LaMontagne by only 1,667 votes.

While the win has certainly let the GOP heave a sigh of relief, the win by such a narrow margin especially when her rival LaMontagne had no appreciable financial backing seems to be a cause for concern too. It clearly hints at the inter party discord within.

The Democrats, on the other hand, feel that defeating the former Attorney General Kelly Ayotte is definitely going to be tougher but are confident of a victory over the divided Republicans. The recent upset by Christine O’Donnell in Delaware is a worrying factor for the supporters of the Republican Party as they fear that the GOP establishments will not take the entry of the fringe tea party member too kindly thus making them lose a chance of regaining the control of the Senate.

The victory of Kelly Ayotte is undoubtedly a joyous occasion for the Republicans. She will now have to face the Democratic candidate Paul Hodes next. Hodes has not lost any time in the mean time and has already started campaigning.

The inter party rivalry is proving to be more than a mere worrying factor and the public disenchantment with the administration has already resulted in creation of the tea party. More divisions will only be akin to handing it all to the Democrats on a platter, feel the public. John Weaver, the Republican advisor to Senator John McCain disagrees on this issue, however.

Both the candidates Ayotte and LaMontagne will now be appearing for the unity breakfast of the party on Thursday according to the party spokesman Ryan Williams.